OSHA Hearing Conservation Program 

There are two ways we can perform hearing testing for your employees:

1. In Clinic

  • Audiometric questionnaire
  • Audiogram
  • Healthcare provider review of audiogram results done as part of Preplacement or other physical exam.
  • Any test result that may indicate a Standard Threshold Shift will be reviewed by an audiologist.

2. Worksite

  • Audiometric questionnaire
  • Audiogram
  • Healthcare provider review of audiogram results for Hearing Conservation Programs administered by our staff. This also applies to employees seen in our clinic due to absence day(s) of testing.
  • Any test result that may indicate a Standard Threshold Shift will be reviewed by an audiologist.
  • Program Administration/Process
  • Coordination of the program/ Sound level meter checks and calibration of audiometer
  • Individual hearing test results for distribution to the employees
  • Employee listing of most recent audiograms
  • Hearing summary report with graph
  • Report of employees who show a shift of 10 or more/recordable shift

So What Makes Us Different?

Staff. NorthWorks consulting staff is medically trained. They are required by certifying bodies to meet annual competency standards. In addition, they are CAOHC (Council for Accreditation of Occupational Hearing Conservationists) certified. Because the staff is medically trained, they are competent to offer visual exams of the eardrum. This is a preliminary screening to help detect any physical condition that might interfere with the hearing screening process.

Education. Once again, our medically trained staff are able to educate your staff that hearing protection is important both at home and at work. Specific questions are answered professionally with a view toward better compliance in the workplace.

Questionnaire. The complete, OSHA-mandated audiometric questionnaire is reviewed by a licensed health care provider. The history and audiogram from previous years can be compared with current information to detect changes related to all activities that may impact audiometric results such as hunting or farming.

Booths. Audiometric testing is completed in an OSHA-approved, sound retardant booth. Unlike vendors who use curtains or partitions in a van, which do not assure a sound retardant environment, our booth is virtually sound-proof. It is calibrated upon arrival onsite to ensure accuracy of results. Our audiometric system automatically adjusts for age related hearing loss to eliminate the possible confusion with work induced loss.

Retesting and Followup. We are available in-clinic to do makeup testing for individuals who were absent or unable to test on the scheduled date. In addition, retesting to confirm or disprove STS results is done in our clinic and minimized the cost of such testing by an audiologist. If review by an audiologist is required, those arrangements are made through our office for you in a timely manner.

In our experience many of those individuals whose original audiogram indicated an STS, upon retest, showed hearing within normal limits.

It is our belief that the audiometric testing services provided through NorthWorks are far superior to and fully inclusive of all OSHA mandated testing requirements for a complete hearing conservation program. Because of our medical expertise in both physicians and staff, the service we provide is both high quality and geared toward the specific needs of you as an employer. We understand the value of your time as well as the demands of compliance and we believe we offer the most complete service to meet the high standards of health and safety that you set for your employees.